Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile Approves New Qualifying Shake-Up as 2026 Formula 1 Expansion Takes Shape
Formula 1’s sweeping transformation for 2026 has moved another step closer to reality after the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) confirmed a revised qualifying format to suit an expanded grid. The adjustment comes as the championship prepares for one of the most significant overhauls in its modern era — both technically and competitively.
The 2026 season will mark a landmark reset for the sport. Radical new power unit regulations will be introduced alongside major changes to chassis construction, aerodynamics, and energy deployment systems. However, the transformation extends beyond engineering. For the first time in more than a decade, the grid will expand to 11 teams, increasing the number of cars from 20 to 22.
This expansion follows the confirmed arrival of Cadillac as a new constructor and Audi’s full acquisition and rebranding of Sauber. Audi will enter under the Audi Revolut F1 banner, while Cadillac’s debut signals a significant boost to Formula 1’s growing American presence. With two additional cars joining the field, the FIA faced the challenge of adapting the long-standing qualifying system without compromising the spectacle.
Since 2006, Formula 1 has operated a three-part knockout qualifying format consisting of Q1, Q2, and Q3. Traditionally, five drivers are eliminated in Q1, five more in Q2, leaving the fastest 10 drivers to battle for pole position in Q3. The format has become a staple of modern race weekends, delivering drama and tension as the field narrows.
However, the addition of two more drivers in 2026 required recalibration. After reviewing its options, the FIA opted to retain the three-session structure but increase the number of eliminations in the first two segments. Beginning in 2026, six drivers will be knocked out at the end of Q1, with another six eliminated after Q2. This adjustment ensures that Q3 will continue to feature a top-10 shootout, preserving one of Formula 1’s most thrilling traditions.
The change has now been formally written into the FIA Sporting Regulations, making it an official component of the sport’s competitive framework heading into the new era. It follows a broader series of procedural refinements by the governing body, including updated guidance on handling red-flag interruptions during qualifying sessions.
Despite the increase in eliminations, the structure and timing of qualifying sessions will remain unchanged. Q1 will continue to run for 18 minutes, after which the six slowest drivers will be eliminated. A seven-minute interval will separate Q1 from Q2. The second segment will last 15 minutes, eliminating another six competitors. The final 12-minute Q3 session will then determine pole position and the top ten grid spots, exactly as in previous seasons.
The FIA emphasized that the revised format is a targeted and proportionate response to the larger grid, rather than a wholesale restructuring of race weekend procedures. Officials believe the changes maintain competitive balance while ensuring the sessions remain efficient and engaging for fans worldwide.
Cadillac’s anticipated driver lineup has also generated significant discussion within the paddock. Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas are widely expected to lead the team’s inaugural campaign, bringing experience and credibility to the new American outfit. Their arrival as the 21st and 22nd drivers on the grid further reinforced the need to fine-tune the qualifying elimination process.
As Formula 1 stands on the brink of its most ambitious transformation in years, the qualifying update highlights how every aspect of the sport must evolve. With new manufacturers, expanded competition, and revolutionary technology on the horizon, even long-established traditions are adapting.
The 2026 season promises not just faster and more efficient cars, but a broader and more competitive field — and now, a qualifying format ready to meet that challenge head-on.
